As I titled my blog for this week, I wondered if "emergence" was the right word. It looks sooo much like "emergency". I was refering to the process by which my classroom emerged from what it was when I arrived. Then, as I reflect, one more than one occassion, it has indeed been an emergency. Therefore, I stick with my first choice of word, rightly or wrongly!
Though not a full week since my first posting, I thought I'd hop to it and give y'all an update...as I know you're waiting patiently in anticipation for the next round.
One might ask, how does one pass the time in desert-land? After all, frolicking in the sun isn't recommended or encouraged! Yet there hasn't been a dull moment.
When planning on making Kuwait the country of residence, one is given a long line of hoops to jump through. Fortunately, we have an amazing staff that gets the hoops all lined up for us. My first hoop was to go and get a photo taken for the Ministry (government).
Now, at first glance, one might ask, "What's the big deal about getting a picture taken?" And to be honest, a big deal it was not. HOWEVER, what was the big deal was the many trips I took to Wal-Mart so that I could get the pictures taken in advance on light blue background, only to find out that the light blue background chosen at Wal-Mart was not the appropriate shade of light blue. I now have the most beautiful pictures in which I almost glow...I have no imperfections in my skin tone...no freckles...nothing. Here's hoping that the Ministry doesn't ever need to use those photos to id me...I look nothing like it.
Once photos were out of the way, the next task was to go and get all the blood work I had completed in Canada so that I could enter the country re-done so that I could stay in the country. FOUR HOURS LATER, we were back on our bus, heading to the school. Aside from the fact that the women were taken to another building (not air conditioned) until our turn for our blood work before being transported to another facility for chest x-rays (tuberculosis testing) where we got to stand for 2 hours, it was relatively painless. I have a great bruise to show for it. Many of the staff here think I ought to take a picture and post it for my family to see...I think you can all picture a really ugly bruise on my delicate, porceline skin!
After such a day, there was nothing better than IKEA! I think the school planned it that way...horrible day with medical tests followed by an afternoon at IKEA land.
Rather than piling onto the bus for our IKEA adventure, my dear friend Jenny and her friend Steve (who, by association is now my friend Steve) drove to IKEA in Steve's jeep. It was a blast. I had thought ahead to make a list of things I needed. About an hour (and $400.00) later, we were loading up the Jeep and heading back to the apartment. I am certainly comfortable in my apartment now...right down to the little chair I have for my vanity. Don't worry, though...there will be many more trips to IKEA...I have the "September paycheck" list all sorted out already!
Other highlights of the past week included a trip to City Centre...a huge department store/grocery store located in a Mall that has a bunch of traditional souks. The great thing about shopping at the Souks at the City Centre mall is that they are indoors, and therefore, airconditioned.
In addition to shopping trips, we had inservice on the programming that we'll be teaching for the upcoming year. All in all, a very busy week. NOTE: There has been no mention of the classroom...still to come...read on :)
My first weekend in Kuwait was spent learning how to do laundry. Now, I am proud to say that, for the most part, when it comes to things "technological" I am pretty swift. I am also a laundry veteran...it's been years since I started doing my own laundry...and mom would tell you that not only do I know how to wash the clothes, I'm also particular about which colours can be watched in which load.
However, apparently washers in Kuwait are not quite as simple. As it turns out, my washing machine not only washes clothes, but it also dries them. How it dries them is the question. You see, we have no owner manual, nor do we have someone who knows how to work the washer/dryer thinger. Instead we have coloured dials, and many buttons and different wash cycles that don't really make much sense.
To make a long story short, after WASHING one load of clothes FOUR times, I finally found out where the drying cycle was, and how to access it. I also discovered that the dryer sucks all the water out of the clothes and therefore, if one overdries their laundry, they have massive amounts of laundry to do (my maid starts Sunday...won't make that mistake twice).
Mom will be proud to know that I didn't go to work for a week with wrinkly clothes, but bought an iron and ironing board and used my precious drinking water to spritz them to make them easier to dry. THERE WILL BE NO IRONING OF BEDDING while in Kuwait....pillow cases, maybe.
I also hosted a dinner party at my house for Jenny and Steve. I cooked on a gas oven for the first time. I also used my little convection oven (purchased at the Sultan Centre...$20.00) to bake muffins and cookies.
My last weekend adventure was a trip to Salmiya...a neighbouring "city". Jenny and I walked there on Saturday...or was it Friday. It's about a 20 minute walk. It was a hot walk, but most enjoyable. Was also great to see how close I am to some shops. We also had shwarma for supper that night...delicious. Needless to say, by the time we got home the only thing I needed was a shower.
And all of those adventures brings me to my classroom. I have spent every spare moment that I've had sorting through piles and piles and piles of, what I fondly refer to as CRAPPOLA. It seemed that no matter HOW many hours I put in, or HOW many piles of garbage I made, my classroom still looked as though it was hit by a hurricane. Today, I am proud to say that my classroom is officially ready to be transformed from "Neat and Tidy room with tables for learning" into "Miss Tylene's Grade Five Room". There is still much to do, but to walk into my room and see how things are supposed to fit together is a huge relief. It's all coming together. I am certain that by Thursday, not only will my classroom be ready for my new students, but I too will be ready.
As with any start to the school year, things are, at times stressful. I am fortunate to have so many people here who I can turn to. I am thankful for Jenny, for the friend that she is and the connections that she's helped me to make. It's safe to say, that dispite the stresses, and the feelings of sometimes being overwhelmed, I am happy to be here. I am excited for the start of the school year. I am curious as to what the future will bring.
I am still working on getting pictures up...be patient. Let's hope for Friday!!!
Love you and miss you all!!!
G & T
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